The Asia Leadership Roundtable, organized by China Daily, held the Mastermind Roundtable themed "Stewardship in the Chinese Context: Family, Legacy, Future" on February 11 at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong.

The event brought together over 100 leading experts and practitioners from the finance, legal, academic, and family office sectors to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Chinese families in succession, governance, and value continuity.

The main Guests of Honor includes: Mr. Christopher Hui Ching-yu, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, HKSAR Government; Mr. Bernard Charnwut Chan, GBM, GBS, JP, Chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation, Member of Chronicle Advisors' Advisory Board; Mr. Zhou Li, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, China Daily, and Editor-in-Chief, China Daily Hong Kong; Mr. Che Wang Kin Anthony, National Committee Member of the CPPCC; Mr. Jolly Yip, Deputy Global Head of Family Offices, InvestHK; Dr. Marcus Wong, Chairman, XinXi Asset Management; Mr. Joel Tan, Founder and CEO, XinXi Asset Management; etc.

XinXi Asset Management, as the Official Partner of the event, fully supported the forum. Dr. Marcus Wong, Chairman, and Mr. Joel Tan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, delivered keynote speeches sharing XinXi's innovative concepts and practices in the family office space.

Policy and Business Leaders Gather to Discuss New Paradigms in Succession

The session commenced with welcome remarks by Mr. Zhou Li, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China Daily and Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Hong Kong. Keynote speeches were delivered by Mr. Christopher Hui, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government; Mr. Bernard Charnwut Chan, GBM, GBS, JP, Chairman of Our Hong Kong Foundation and Member of the Chronicle Advisors' Advisory Board; Dr. Marcus Wong, Chairman of XinXi Asset Management and Mr. Joel Tan, Founder and CEO of XinXi Asset Management. Their addresses examined the development prospects of family offices in Hong Kong from policy, societal, and professional perspectives.

Three panel discussions followed, focusing respectively on "Family & Relational Dynamics," "Governance & Structure," and "Professional & Technical Implementation." Moderators and speakers included Ms. Joy Chen, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Hong Kong; Ms. Carrie Tang, Managing Director, JP Morgan; Mr. Harry Yu, Senior Partner, Fung Yu Trust Services; Mrs. Peggy Chan, Director of Programme, ISS Family Institute, ISS-HK; Ms. Wisdom Hon, Director, W Plus M Limited; Ms. Sherlynn Chan, Partner, Deacons Family & Private Wealth; Mr. Christian Stewart, Managing Director, Family Legacy Asia; Ms. Jane Ren, Partner, Fanda Partners; Prof. Winnie Qian Peng, Director, Roger King Center for Asian Family Business and Family Office, HKUST; Mr. Richard Grasby, Partner, Appleby Global; and Ms. Karina Wong, Partner, Ernst & Young. The sessions were marked by robust discussion and in-depth exchange.

Dr. Marcus Wong: Technology Redefines Trust – Family Offices Must Evolve with the Times

Dr. Marcus Wong, Chairman of XinXi Asset Management, delivered a speech during the luncheon session. He opened with a thought-provoking question: "If technology can track the real-time location of any aircraft in the world, why do many wealthy families still need three days to clarify where their assets are held?" This paradox, he noted, underscores the digital transformation lag in the family office industry—and the very reason XinXi Family Office was established.

Dr. Marcus Wong shared his personal journey as a third-generation member of an insurance family. His late father, Mr. Joshua Wong, was among AIA's first full-time agents and helped build a team of nearly 9,000 agents, establishing a formidable presence in Hong Kong and Macau through the introduction of professional agency systems. Dr. Marcus Wong joined the industry during the 1997 financial crisis, carrying forward his father's legacy by transforming insurance agents from traditional protection providers to comprehensive financial planning and trust service professionals. "True succession is not about maintaining scale," he emphasized. "It is about continuous innovation and ensuring that professional values keep pace with the times."

Dr. Marcus Wong outlined three core strengths of XinXi Family Office:

1.  Philosophy and Team: Many team members come from the next generation of affluent families and deeply understand that wealth preservation precedes growth.

2.  Independence and Client Alignment: XinXi does not sell insurance products and is not commission-driven. Client interests are fully aligned with the firm's.

3.  Technology and Innovation: The firm has invested in an in-house technology team, upgraded its licensed capabilities in digital assets, and developed algorithmic trading systems to replace emotional decision-making with data and systems.

Dr. Marcus Wong pointed to what he described as an industry paradox: family offices invest in cutting-edge technologies such as SpaceX, yet their internal reporting still relies on Excel and Word. XinXi's proprietary technology platform provides families with real-time, panoramic visualization of their asset portfolios. "We are building a platform that integrates licenses, technology, and talent—enabling family offices to operate more intelligently under their own brands, exchange ideas, co-invest, and navigate uncertainty together," he said. He concluded that the future of wealth management lies in structure, not products; technology will not replace trust, but it will redefine how trust is transmitted.

Mr. Joel Tan: Hong Kong as a Global Wealth Legacy Hub – XinXi Bridges Value and Ecosystem

Mr. Joel Tan, Founder and CEO of XinXi Asset Management, delivered a keynote address in the morning session. He began by thanking China Daily for convening the distinguished gathering and expressed XinXi's full support for the HKSAR Chief Executive Mr. John Lee's policy statement addressing on developing Hong Kong's family office sector.

A Singaporean national with over two decades of financial services experience in Hong Kong and Mainland China, Mr. Joel Tan reflected on the limitations of traditional financial institutions, which he observed often prioritize short-term returns and product sales over the deeper succession and value integration needs of family clients. "Many families hold complex, long-term visions," he said, "yet receive only fragmented, transaction-oriented advice." It was this gap that inspired him to establish XinXi Asset Management—a name that conveys "Trust and Understanding." The firm was built to serve as an integrating fulcrum within the family ecosystem, helping families align governance structures, investment allocations, and succession plans with their core values.

Drawing an analogy, Mr. Joel Tan compared establishing a family office to "planting a tree for the next century—it requires the right soil and climate." He emphasized that Hong Kong—with its common law system, free flow of capital, proximity to the Greater Bay Area, and proactive government policies and tax incentives—offers an ideal environment for family offices to take root and thrive. He cited the example of a client from Chengdu whose assets were originally allocated in Germany but faced challenges due to high taxes and language barriers. XinXi assisted in restructuring and relocating the assets to Hong Kong, enabling the client to maintain a globally diversified portfolio while gaining greater operational flexibility.

Mr. Joel Tan described XinXi's role as a "bridge and facilitator" within the ecosystem, connecting legal, tax, trust, and other professional advisors to ensure that all strategic directions remain aligned with the family's long-term resilience and prosperity. "Hong Kong has evolved from an international financial center into an international wealth legacy hub," he concluded. "With continued support from the HKSAR Government and media thought leaders, Hong Kong will become the ideal place where the next generation of family legacies is built with purpose and vision." He extended his Year of the Horse greetings on behalf of XinXi, wishing all guests good health and professional success.

Passing the Torch: XinXi and China Daily Jointly Drive Industry EvolutionPassing the Torch: XinXi and China Daily Jointly Drive Industry Evolution

The Roundtable not only provided a platform for deep exchange among family office practitioners but also underscored Hong Kong's unique position as a wealth management hub connecting the local and the world as a super communicator. As Official Partner, XinXi Asset Management participated extensively throughout the event. Its philosophy of "preservation before growth" and "technology-driven, culture-resonant" approach drew widespread resonance among attendees.

Since its inception, the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable has been dedicated to fostering strategic dialogue on economic, business, and social development in the region. XinXi Asset Management's partnership with China Daily reflects a shared commitment to advancing the family office profession toward greater professionalism, technological integration, and human-centricity. Moving forward, XinXi will continue to position itself as the "next-generation family office," helping Asian Chinese families uphold innovation while preserving tradition—ensuring that family values and legacies transcend generations.

About XinXi Asset Management

XinXi Asset Management, established in Hong Kong, is an integrated wealth management platform positioned as a "next-generation family office." Led by Dr. Marcus Wong as Chairman and Mr. Joel Tan as Founder and CEO, the firm focuses on providing governance structures, investment strategies, succession planning, and technology solutions for high-net-worth families in Asia. XinXi adheres to the principles of independence and interest alignment. It does not sell financial products and operates on the core philosophy of "preservation first, growth second," committed to helping families translate values into cross-generational impact. (www.xxgroups.com)

About China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable

The China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is an invitation-only network of thought leaders providing platforms for focused dialogue, issue-based research, and strategic collective action on critical economic, business, and social development issues in Asia. Its goal is to enhance communication and mutual understanding between China, Asia, and Western countries. (www.cdroundtable.com)